Consumers are taking their TV watching on the go

LOS ANGELES (AP) – A new Nielsen company study says consumers increasingly are watching TV programs on their own schedule.

In the past year, U.S. viewers’ monthly time-shifting of TV fare grew by almost two hours, according to a Nielsen report released Monday. Such viewing averages 13 hours each month.

Television still remains central to media consumption, the study found, despite the increase in time-shifting viewing and streaming video through a computer or smartphone.

On average, American consumers own four digital devices, the report found. The majority of U.S. households own high-definition TV sets, Internet-connected computers and smartphones, while nearly half also own digital video recorders and gaming consoles.

An offbeat survey finding: 40 percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 24 use social media in the bathroom.